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Review LEOPARDSTOWN 8TH SEP

Dylan Thomas became the first horse to land back-to-back Irish Champion Stakes as Ballydoyle dominated the Tattersalls sponsored feature at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The 8/15f was produced in the straight by Kieren Fallon to run out an impressive length-and-a-half victor over stable-mate Duke Of Marmalade.

Pacemaker Red Rock Canyon kept on for third to complete a famous clean sweep for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Fallon shook his mount up turning for home and he soon hit top gear to reel in the front two with over a furlong to run. The son of Danehill powered clear and could afford to ease down close home.

'He's a serious horse. We always thought given fast ground and a strong run race that he is nearly unbeatable,' said O'Brien.

'He is great at 1m2f but takes a mile to get into his tempo because of his long stride. Colm set a lovely pace and then Seamus came and took it off him.

'We sidestepped the Arc last year because of Hurricane Run but if the ground is nice and everything works out well we would look forward to it now.'

Fallon was full of praise for the winner describing the four-year-old as the best horse that he has rode.

'He has done nothing wrong for me and has gone from strength to strength. The front two got a bit of a run on him but he's such a good horse he was able to reel them in.'

English champion Ryan Moore completed a quick fire double on the undercard with the victory of Echelon in the Group 1 Matron Stakes the highlight.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly ran out a convincing length-and-a-half winner of the 250,000 contest.

Moore drove his mount to the lead at the furlong marker and she kept on strongly to land the spoils from Red Evie.

The winner was justifying Stoute's decision to have her supplemented.

'She should have been entered but she ran badly on her last visit to Ireland and the owners didn't really want to go back. She won so well at Goodwood though that she had to run here.

'Today she always looked the winner from a long way out. She's tough and has won 6 Group races now.'

The stewards switched the third and fourth places after deciding that Eastern Appeal had caused interference to Arch Swing in the straight.

Moore had partnered another raider to success in the previous contest as Mark Johnston's charge, Hearthstead Maison, landed the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes.

The colt also benefited from a typically power packed Moore ride, striking the front over a furlong out and galloping resolutely to a length-and-a-half success from Arch Rebel.

Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen combined to record a fabulous four-timer on the card initiated by a highly impressive debut from Chinese White in the opening fillies maiden.

The daughter of Dalakhani made all to score by six-lengths and will run once more this season, probably in Listed company.

Another juvenile debutant, Casual Conquest, battled gamely to hold the late run of Houston Dynamo in the colts' contest.

Thoughtless Moment weaved her way through the field in the straight to take the September Handicap while Little Eye wrapped up proceedings when running out a convincing winner of the concluding 1m1f handicap.